Political Science – Second Half.docx

Political ScienceSecond Half Lecture 1Political PartiesRelevant stillEssential for democracyAre you a memberParties in DeclineShallow rootsPolicy often developed and implemented by public service and interest groupsPartisanship in declineOther forms of social organization Changing bases of partisanship Is this good for democracy Lecture 2 Contd AngloSphere of parties is in a slow declineParty organization and partisanship continues to have less of a role in every day lifeNot good for democracyParties are still importantIn new democracies there is a hyperdiversity of partisanship111 parties ran in 2005 Iraqi electionNever having democratic procedures creates a rush of partiesOver time the parties will filter out or be absorbed by other parties Parties have important role in structuring choice candidacy does not matter as much as what party Parties stand for certain things and that once in parliament the MP tow the line for their parties and not their ridings Parties are like brands The parties guide us and help us to determine what they are aboutPolitical parties are private organization made up of volunteers and paid professionals who work together to achieve common goals getting into power 1 Some parties may compete simply to highlight an issue Origins th UKearly 19 centuryCome along with the development of democracyCliques in Parliament formed around leaders of factionsElite dominated Extension of franchisestarting 1832leads to growth of electorateNew parties emerge Labour PartyIn many countries there were many restrictions against who could vote Oldest political parties are in AngloSphereVery few people were eligible to vote Parliament was basically a gentlemans club where wealthy aristocrats would debate with each otherLabour party came from outside Parliament that fought for the ability for everyone to vote and suchBegan political organizations and then parties in Parliament Changed in function and things they believe in over timeParties can come from both inside and outside Parliament 5 Categories of Political PartiesElite based early UK Conservatives Early Canadian Liberal and ConservativesSmall dominated by elite aimed to reward supporters with patronage Found in earliest stages of democratic developmentMassbased response to elite based partiesAided by extension of franchise Large membershipHighly dependent on membership for resources Social clubs and outreach British Labour Party until 1990sEthnic Parties Seek to protect ethnic groupsInkatha Freedom Party South Africa Aim to get resources for group ElectoralistEmerge after WWII Small membershipLeader centeredIdeologically vague Focus on electionsContemporary Canadian Conservatives Liberals NDPUS Republicans and Democrats Media core tactical weapon Dominant party category in West now Movement PartiesNonhierarchal European GreensSmall membership concerned with core ideas